Cover device for washing machines and the like



Feb. 10, 1931. w. K. voss i$791,544

COVER DEVICE FOR WASHING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Original Filed Jan. 19. 1927 2 Sheets-she 1 k) ,77'zveizzoi" ZVQZJWK W056,

Feb. 10, 1931. w, 055

COVER DEVICE FOR'WASHING MACHINES AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 OriginalFiled Jan. 19. 1927 jUQW Patented Feb. W, 1&3!

l,7ii1,544

WALTER K. VOSS, OF DAVENPORT, IOWA COVER DEVICE FOR WASHING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Original application filed January 19, 1927, Serial No. 162,015. Divided and this application filed August 11, 1927. Serial No. 212,177.

The present invention relates to covers for washing machines and the like and parts thereof.

The present application is a division of my original application Serial No. 162,015, filed January 19th, 1927.

Among the objects of myinvention is to provide a novel cover or top for a washing machine tub or other container, which may be'of raised type or form and having a movable portion or swinging section, on a fixed portion or section secured to the tub or other container. The two sections or portionsare preferably cut concentric to the axis of the hinge with a part dipping below the top and the top resting laterally against the fixed section when the cover is in open position. It also includes means for pivotally or hingedly supporting the movable section, preferably 2 with the hinge below the cover top and in advance of the parting therebetween, so as to leave the top flat and smooth without projecting portions of the hinge shown at or above the top of the cover when the cover is closed.

Other objects, advantages, and capabi ities willlater more fully appear. My invention further resides in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and while there is shown therein a preferred embodimenhl wish it to be understood that the same is susceptible of modifications and change without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Although I have sh own my invention in con1- hination with the tub of the ma chine, it is to be understood that the same is adapted to be used as a cover for other containers.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view showing my invention applied to a washing machine, the cover being in open position.

Fig. 2 is part top plan view and part horizontal section of the washing machine showing the cover in closed position.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken in planes represented by line 33 in Eig. 2 of the drawings.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings, an illustrative embodiment of a washing machine embodying the invention is shown as comprising a tub l mounted upon a support 2 carrying casters 3 whereby the machine may be moved about readily over a surface. Within the support 2 is carried in any suitable manner, power operating mechanism adapted to drive through a vertical shaft 1 rotatable in a housing 5 suitably mounted upon the support. The shaft 4 has driving connections through reversing gearing for a wringer 6 which is capable of swinging about a vertical axis in any desired position, the reversing gearing being enclosed in a housing 7 connected to the wringer and removably mounted above the housingv 5. The support also carry a shelf or bracket 8 of the collapsible type and designed to support a basket or tub or the like.

The top of the tub has a rim portion 9 upon which may rest a raised cover having a fixed cover portion 10 and a movable cover portion 11. These cover portions have vertical side walls 12 terminating in horizontal flanges 13 secured to the tub rim and ex tending upwardly to the top portion 14 of the fixed cover portion 10 and the top of the cover portion 11. It will be observed that the top is cut on a curved, bias or in an are forming a parting 15 between the fixed and. movable sections. In order that the movable top may be hinged to swing so that it will not interfere with the fixed section at the parting 15, hinge mechanism comprising members 16 are secured to the side and top walls 12 and 14 of the fixed section by means of screws, bolts or the like 17 and 17 and carry curved or bent arms 18 having at the other ends thereof hinge parts pivotally connected to hinge parts in plates 18 secured to the under surface of the top 11 as by means of screws, bolts or the like 19. The axis of the hinge member is located in advance of the parting 15 so that the rear edge portion of the top 11 may dip, and when the cover is swung back, the top portion in front of the hinge axis may contact or abut against the front edge of the fixed section 14, as shown by dotted lines in. Fig. 3. When the movable part 11 is closed, the edges at the parting 15 will come into contact or coincidence as also shown in full lines in Fig. 3.

The cover, as a whole, is raised to form a hollow space beneath it and above the rim of the tub for the carrying of suitable operating mechanism adapted to operate a dolly or agitator 20 in the tub. This dolly may be of the type that is capable of floating or being carried at the level of the contents of the tub and is preferably connected to a non-circular shaft 21 slidably mounted in a pinion member 22 rotatably carried in bearings in the cover 11 and in a. housing 25 depending from the bottom surface of the cover 11, and secured thereto by suitable securing means such as bolts or the like 26. The shaft 21 is capable of sliding vertically so that the dolly may float or rest upon the contents of the tub and yet be caused to retate or have an alternating rotary movement with the pinion 22. The housing 25 encloses a space within which a part otthe operating mechanism is enclosed. The operating mechanism comprises a reciprocating rack 27 adapted to engage with the teeth of the pinion, and connected at its other end pivotally to a driven gear 28 rotatably mounted upon a stud bearing 29 having a stud 30 secured to a depressed portion 31 of the housing 25. In order to hold the rack constantly in mesh engagement with the pinion 22, there maybe provided a flanged roller or the like 32 rota tably mounted on a stud 33 secured to the lower wall of the casing or housing 25, the rack beinr slidable between the flanges of the roller and being held by the body of the roller in proper engagement with the pinion 22. The cover 11 is provided with an opening 34 through which may extend a portion of the gear 28 beyond the periphery of the cover and tub for engagement therewith of a driving gear 36 secured to the upper end of. the shaft 4 as by a cross-pin 37 or the like. The upper end of the housing 5 is also provided with a housing 38 for e closing the gear 36 and other parts, this hous ing being secured to the upper end of the housing as by bolts or the line 39, and also may be fastened by way o'r' integral portions 41 to the rim 9 of the tub. In this way the structure may be made rigid with the tub. The housing 38 also has a cover 42 which may be connected to the housing portion 38 as by way of screws. bolts or the like 43, and by way of lugs to the portion 41 of the housing 38. This cover is preferably provided with a cut-out portion 44, of arc shape or the like, for exposing a part of the teeth of the gear 86 as well as the teeth of the gear 28. The top of the cover 11 also provided with a cut-out 45 for the same purpose. By providing these cutout portions the operator can see the relative position of the teeth when the cleaving thereof is effected as well permitting the movement of the cover 11 with the gear 28 when opening or closing the cover and moving the gear 28 from or into sliding engagement with the teeth of the gear 38. In order to protect and cover the same, the cover 42 may have a sliding covering member 46 capable of sliding in an arc path on the cover 42 to a position such as that shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, the same being guided in its movement by guide elements 47 engaging with the periphery of the cover and a pin 48 capable of sliding in a slot 49 of arc shape in the cover 42. It will be noted that the cover member 46 has an arc shaped cut-out portion 50 such that when the cover is moved to present this cut-out portion opposite the gear teeth, it will permit the cleaving of the gears without interference, and when moved in the position shown in Fig. 2, the cover 46 will cover the gear teeth and extend into the cut-out portion 45 of the cover 11. The cover member 46 may be provided with a projectioi'i 51 for the manual engagement thereof for moving the cover in a direction and to a position whereby the cut-out portion 50 may be presented over the gear teeth. The return of the cover 46 is automatically effected by means of a spring 52 connected at one end to the pin 48 and at the other end to a fixed part of the cover 42, the spring surrounding a depending sleeve portion 52 of the cover 42.

lVhen the gears are operating there is a tendency to lateral movement of the driven mechanism and the connected parts, such as the cover 11. In order to avoid this, the rim of the tub is provided with abutment lugs 53 and 54 located at the side of the opening 34 of the cover and adapted to be engaged with the abutment lugs 05 and 56 carried by the cover 11 so that when the latter is in closed position, the lugs and 56 will lit closely against the lugs 53 and 54 and therefore prevent any lateral movement to the cover and the parts carried thereby. This will take the load of lateral thrust oil' the hinges of the cover. The upper end of the shaft 4 is connected, above stated, to the gear 36,'the latter having a depressed web portion 57 and a central hub iortion The upper end of this hub portion is slotted to form a clutch connection with a cross-pin 51) in a wringer shaft 60, the latter acti driving element for the reverse gear the wringer. The gear hous'sing 7 ol the wringer has a depending socket 61 adapted to slide and it into and be also rotatable within a sleeve or hub portion (:2 forming an integral part of the housing top or cover 42 and the sleeve portion 52, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 in the drawing. The wringer with the housing 7 and sleeve 61 may he bod ily removed or inserted in 1 cc together withv the shaft the latter automatically engaging with the clutch end 63 of the hub of the gear 86. Other suitable means are also provided for locking the wringer in swung thereof parallel to and spaced from said partposition such as a locking bar 64 adapted to engage in slots in a-plato 66 secured to the top of the housing cover 42.

The upper end of the shaft 21 may be provided with a knob 66 whereby the dolly may be manually raised. if desired. At the same time the shaft 4 may operate through the clutch 63 and 59 and shaft to the wringer rolls. Also the wringer may be swung to any desired position over the tub.

After the washing operation, the operator may slide the cover member 46 to the point where it may expose the cut-out portions over the gear teeth and the operator may then raise the cover 11 so as to slidably disengage the gear 28 from the teeth of the gear 36. This will disconnect the driving connection to the operating mechanism for the dolly. The cover may then be swung up into upright position as shown in dotted line in Fig. 3, until the connecting bracketslS of the cover hinge contact with the edge 67 of the fixed cover portion 10 of the top, the cover then remaining in upright position. It will be noted from Fig. 1 that this cover with the attached operating mechanism and dolly will be to one side of the space swept by the wring-er when swung from one position to another on one side or the other side of the tub as shown by the dotted line 68 in Fig. 1 of the drawing showing the maximum sweep of the end of the wringer. The cover is preferably hinged on an axis parallel to one end of the support 2 and the operating mechanism in the latter operates through a shaft 4 preferably located at a corner or near a corner of the support 2. This provides for the wringer swinging about an axis whereby the wringer may operate at one side of the tub, at one side of the support, or at another side of the tub and at an end of a support where a tub or basket may be readily carried by the supporting bracket 8.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

1. In a washing machine comprising a tub, a cover for said tub comprising a movable portion and a fixed portion, said portions parting in a curve inclined to the plane of said cover, a hinge member-secured to said portions and having its axis beneath said movable cover portion, said movable portion being adapted to engage an edge of said fixed cover portion to hold the movable portion in open position.

2. A cover adapted for use with a washing machine tub, comprising a flat top and depending side walls engaging the tub, said top and side walls being out in an inclined surface to form cover sections, whereby one section may be moved relative to the other for opening and closing functions, and binge means for said sections and having the axis ing surface.

In wltness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name to this specification.

WALTER K. VOSS. 

